The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-12-24
POLICE OF BERLIN.
How the German Capital is Guarded
Against Law Breakera


Of the Berlin police, combines in
his person the chief commissioner
of police and the board of work.
He not only looks after the safety
aud health Of the public, but has
under his surveillance the streets,
markets and buildings.
In relation to the Berlin munich
pality, which by its excellent fnan-
cial management has shown itself
worthy of the considerable admin
istrative economy which it enjoys,
the president of police exercises
certain rights Of control. He rep
rcsents the state in its relations
with the people in the first instance
and is the organ of the executive
power.
The municipality bears large
share of the police expenditure, pay
ing for the uniforms of the Schultz
leute and providing the buildings
in the varions localities where they
are stationed. The state provides
the pay of the men. That of the
fire brigade comes out of the mu-
nicipal funds, although the firemen,
like the Schuzleute, are under the
orders Of the president of the police
The policemen only are employed
during the daytime. at night the
capital is confided to the care of
watchmen, who wear a distinctive
uniform, and are provided With a
whistle and saber. These men are
on duty from 10 o'clock at night
till > o'clock the next morning, the
final hour varying according to the
season OF the year They number
600. The effective force of the po-
lice is $500, of which number about
fifty are mounted.
All the policemen are old subor-
dinate officers Of the army, and are
of a certain standard hight. They
must have passed nine years in the
army, and employment is given to
those only who have distinguished
themselves 10y good conduct, zeal
and assidu.ty. They are respected
by and live on good terms with the
civil population. although their
manner occasionally betrays their
military training and is not exempt
from brusqueness.
The Berlin submits by force Of
habit to the injunciions of their
policemen, and on military parade
days one constable is sufficient to
keep large number Of spectators
i'm order.
The morale of the corps is good
because the men know that they
are supported by both the public
and superior authority. The latter
Furnishes all faults and negligence
on the part of the force, and pro-
tects it when 1T is in the right.
In addition to this outdoor po-
lice, which sees to the execution Of
laws and regulations and maintains
, order in the streets. there is police
of safety, whose mission is to dis
cover the author of crimes and
misdemeanors, and to keep strict
watch over the dangerous classes,
so as to prevent as far rs possible
the perpetration of offenses against
person and property.
The head of the police of safety
is Count Puckler The agents of
safety wear ordinary civil dress,
ard when they visit dangerous
quarters wear revolver. The lat
ter privilege has recently been
. granted to them in consequence of
some serious encounter with armed
criminals.
The district agents are especially
charged with the surveillance Of
: dealers in old clothes. pawnbrokers
, and all suspected persons having a
/. fixed domicile. The town is divided
> for the purpose of this department
of the force into eight districts, each
lof which is under the direction of u
commissioner.
The division Of labor, which Is
) so marked n feature of the Berlin
:, police force, is carried down to the
c dangerous element.